'Fictional' chatbots help explain popularity of artificial intelligence
A new study suggests that people find AI chatbots engaging because they treat them like fictional characters from books or films. This psychological framing allows users to form emotional connections and interact with AI in a more human-like, imaginative way.
Why it matters
Understanding the human-AI psychological bond is essential for developers and ethicists as AI becomes more integrated into daily social and professional life.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The huge popularity of AI chatbots can be explained by their accepted role as fictional characters in people's lives—in the same way as those found in films, TV and books, a new study shows.
People may be so comfortable using AI chatbots—and relaxed about the consequences—because they are so used to responding to make-believe as part of their cultural diets. Talkative AI can support a novel and distinctive kind of imaginative practice, where those who use these technologies enter into real-time dialogue with a fictional character whose thoughts and words show up on screen.
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